An Act amending the act of October 27, 1955 (P.L.744, No.222), known as the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, further providing for definitions.
HB 1826 amends Pennsylvania's Human Relations Act by updating key definitions to clarify anti-discrimination protections in employment. It lowers the minimum employee threshold for businesses to be considered "employers" from four to two workers, expanding coverage to more small businesses. The bill also explicitly includes religious, charitable, and similar organizations as employers for discrimination based on race, color, age, sex, national origin, or disability - previously excluded for these categories. Additionally, it revises the definition of "employee" to focus on employer control over work while maintaining exclusions for casual domestic workers and family employees (e.g., parents, spouses, or children).
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Aug 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Aug 28, 2025
Last action Jun 1, 2026
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
6
Key actions
1
Committee
2
Oct 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported as committed
lower
Aug 28, 2025
Committee
Referred to Labor & Industry
lower
1 primary · 22 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Maureen Madden
DDemocratic
Co
Aerion Abney
DDemocratic
Co
Arvind Venkat
DDemocratic
Co
Ben Sanchez
DDemocratic
Co
Ben Waxman
DDemocratic
Co
Carol Hill-Evans
DDemocratic
Co
Elizabeth Fiedler
DDemocratic
Co
Emily Kinkead
DDemocratic
Co
Joe Webster
DDemocratic
Co
Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz
DDemocratic
Co
John Inglis
DDemocratic
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